Students, staff return to USQ
IT’S March 9, 2020 and my usual week of functions is ahead – as the university’s CEO, a Vice-Chancellor’s life is at least 50% off campus. This week is no exception; I am reluctant to leave Toowoomba with a pandemic looming but decide at the last minute to fulfil commitments in Brisbane. I don’t know it, but it is the last week of the old normal.
I attend the first function and I am greeted with a handshake and kiss on the cheek by the host, as usual. But things are not as usual. Another female guest arrives and recoils when given the same greeting.
I travel to our campus at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism Stanthorpe later in the week for meetings, but things are increasingly fraught, and I return to Toowoomba a day early. A pandemic has been declared.
Monday, March 16, we ask our staff to trial working from home. Later that week I make the decision to take staff off campus and start ringing senior managers. There are very few objections.
On March 23, all our teaching goes online; our dedicated staff make this happen in record time – 20 years of online experience shows.
Our students cope remarkably well considering the stress they are under.
Students are suffering financially – we announce a $5.2 million rescue package, and generous staff quickly contribute to an additional appeal for financial help. More than $2.2 million in student support packages have been distributed so far, and the need continues as many have lost their jobs. Our local communities have given outstanding support. It’s now three months later, with a new semester starting. Queensland is at Stage 3 of the recovery, and our staff are returning to campus. Most oncampus teaching activities are back next week, and the campus is Covid-Safe.
We are delighted to see students coming back. As always, online remains a hive of activity with live webinars and workshops.
Our staff have demonstrated remarkable resilience and agility, with rapidly changing teaching and assessment practices.
Our students have persevered through a most complex and difficult situation, and we are here to support them in that journey.
Three months on from the fateful week in March, and I’m at Stanthorpe again, finally meeting with the people I had to cancel back then – we’ve gone full circle.
Welcome to the new normal.